$21,468 raised by 92 donors
86% complete
$25,000 Goal
The Fort Collins Symphony provides innovative programming, leading-edge initiatives such as the B Sharp and Open Notes programs and high energy programs for youth. With nearly sold-out out crowds at every concert and partnerships with local businesses and restaurants, it also plays a significant role in the economic vitality of the community.
Recent patron comments:
"I never fail to come away from a Symphony performance absolutely happy and grateful that I attended. It is a joy to hear the music."
“The Symphony provides such variety that there is something for everyone, no matter their exposure to symphonic music or not.”
"I brought my entire family, all of whom had not attended a Fort Collins Symphony concert ever before. They were a little hesitant to think they were actually going to like a symphony concert. They loved it! All four of them were so impressed and excited and 'inspired' as my 8-year old granddaughter put it!"
“The music quality was amazing but the careful attention to participant education beforehand made the experience even more meaningful.”
“It reminded me that music serves a wide spectrum of purposes and needs. This music is accessible in the best sense. It connects us to stories, enriches them and becomes inseparable from them."
From our business partner, Kat Reeves, of Bistro Nautile and Stoneflower Market and Eatery:
"The Fort Collins Symphony is essential to the cultural vitality of Fort Collins. They enrich our community with amazing music and beautiful collaborative ventures with artists from around the world, and they support and enhance the culture of downtown by giving people a reason to dine out and enjoy some of the many wonderful enriching experiences that make up our community. We have been big supporters of the Symphony for many years, and we hope to continue the collaboration for many more to come."
Why Mary Pat McCurdie supports the Fort Collins Symphony: "Having a professional symphony in town raises the level of sophistication in Fort Collins. In addition to providing excellent classical programing, the presence of an Arts group that is exemplary in giving back to the community leads the way for other arts organizations. I see the Fort Collins Symphony as the arts group that all others look to for guidance."
According to Susan Greer: "The FCS means a lifetime of music to me. While attending my first FCS concert in 1952, I fell in love with the flute and played it for 42 years. Without that first concert, I would not have had the opportunities to be directly involved with music in the United States and Abroad, in bands, orchestras, ensembles and solos, and as a flute student and teacher. Although playing the flute was not my career or a hobby, it was a passion; it has been a part of my identity since 1952. Although I stopped playing the flute in 1994, it is only natural and rewarding for me to volunteer to help today's FCS in any way that I can now that I am retired. My life of music has come full circle: Back to where it started with the Fort Collins Symphony which is still contributing to my lifetime of music. That means the world (or a lifetime) to me."
A B Sharp participant said the following about the Fort Collins Symphony's B Sharp program for people living with dementia and their care providers: "I was blown away because my husband enjoyed it so much and didn't need to use his walker for assistance on his way out of the building. He just walked right out! The music energized him. His voice carries more life in it... I absolutely think he remembers the concert longer than other events and things we do. He can remember when the concert was and knows when concerts will be. That is something that is ingrained in his mind. These concerts are very fundamental and foundational for him. My husband was really good at music and when we first started playing [after his diagnosis], he would get so lost. After attending B Sharp, I've noticed that he has improved so much. B Sharp is by far the best activity that we get to participate in. It is different from all of the others in the sense that I can really see how much this impacts my husband...
Mission: The mission of the Fort Collins Symphony is to inspire, engage, serve, and enrich the Northern Colorado community through exceptional music performance and innovative outreach programs that resonate with audiences in meaningful, inclusive, and accessible ways.
Vision: The Fort Collins Symphony will continue to be a source of community pride as the leading regional orchestra with an expanding audience while achieving a national level of artistic excellence.
The Fort Collins Symphony (FCS) is the oldest performing arts organization and the only professional symphony in Larimer County, Colorado. Editha Todd Leonard founded the all-volunteer orchestra in 1923. Wilfred Schwartz revitalized the orchestra in 1949 when he was hired as a music professor at Colorado State University (CSU). The Fort Collins Symphony Association was formed to provide operational support in 1952. By the 1980s, the FCS was paying its musicians and today employs over 50 professional musicians.
Maestro Schwartz stepped down as conductor in 1999, having served for 50 years. In 2003, the FCS and CSU Music Department hired current Music Director Wes Kenney. Maestro Kenney serves as Music Director of the Fort Collins Symphony, CSU Symphony Orchestra, and the Denver Young Artists Orchestra. He is also a guest conductor with orchestras around the world. Maestro Kenney was recognized by The American Prize as the 2020 Honored Artist. In 2022, CSU named Kenney a University Distinguished Professor.
Since its founding, the FCS has performed live music to generations of audiences. The organization is resilient, surviving economic depressions, wars, and most recently a pandemic. The FCS is now entering its 99th Season, a feat indicating the community's long-standing support. In 2021, the FCS was the first-place winner of The American Prize in Orchestral Performance, Professional Division.
Organization name
Fort Collins Symphony Association
other names
FCSA
1950
Tax id (EIN)
84-6038716
Category
Arts, Culture & Humanities
Organization Size
Medium Organization
Address
141 S. College Avenue Suite 104Mailing
P.O. Box 1963Larimer County, CO, US